Bell-striker



(No Model.) I 2 Sheets-Sheet l.

M. G. CRANE. BELL STRIKER.

No. 452,166. Patented May 12, '1891.

Me-w55 e@ B11/e706@ ,7760565 6, @vente (No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 2. M. G. CRANE.

l UNITED STATESv PATENT OFFICE.

MOSES G. CRANE, OF NEVTON, MASSACHUSETTS.

BELL-STRIKER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 452,166, dated May 12, 1891.

Application iiled November 1'7, 1890. Serial No. 371,697. (No model.)

To @ZZ whom, t may concern,.-

Be it known that I, MOSES Gr. CRANE, ot' Newton, county of Middlesex, State of Massachusetts, have invented an Improvement in Bell-Strikers, of which the following description, in connection with the accompanying drawings, is a specification, like letters on the drawings representing like parts.

This invention has for its object to improve the construction of tower or other bellstrikers.

In accordance with this invention thehammer is secured to a pivoted arm, and is normally held at the beginning of its advancing stroke toward the bell. An elliptical spring is preferably provided, which is held compressed when the hammer is in its normal position. This spring is designed to keep the hammer counterbalanced, and is adjustably connected so as to enable the hammer to be readily adapted to different belt'ries, and said spring is adapted to spend its force during the rst half of the stroke of thev hammer, which force is to be accumulated again during the last half of the stroke of the hammer when moving in each direction. Suitable actuating devices are provided for moving the hammer positively in each direction. Means are also provided for locking the hammer-actuating mechanismwhen the hammer is atthe end of its retreating stroke, or limit of motion in a direction away from the bell, such locking mechanism serving to prevent vibration of the hammer, and thus allow quick action of the striker, said locking mechanism being controlled by an electro-magnet.

Figure 1 shows in side view the several parts of my invention, a portion only of the bell and motor mechanism for the hammer-actuating mechanism being shown; Fig. 2, a side View of the motor mechanism and hammer-actuating mechanism with a portion of the frame removed, and Fig. 3 a plan view ofthe parts shown in Fig. 2.

The motormechanism consists of a weight a, (see Fig. 2,) attached to a cord a', wound about a drum CL2, having its bearings in a frame-work, herein represented as of a peculiar construction. A tooth ed wheel a3 is formed integral with the drum CL2, which is engaged by a pinion co4, secured to a winding-shaft a5. A ratchet-wheel b is also formed integral with the drum a2, with which co-operates a pawl b', secured to the ratchet-toothed wheel or other actuatorbg. The fram e-work supporting these parts comprises two halves or portions A B, divided vertically, and havi ngears A2,through which bolts A pass to secure the halves or portions together. This form of frame-Work is very import-ant, as it can be cheaply made and more readily taken apart and set up in small places. Two pawls c c are loosely connected one to each end of a rocking arm or cradle c2, pivoted at c3, and having an extended arm c4. The pawls c c are held by asuitable support or guide, as c5, in position to be engaged by the ratchet-toothed wheel or actuator b2 alternately, to thereby turn the arm c2 on its pivot and to vibrate the arm c4. A rod d loosely connects the outer end of the arm c4 with an arm d', which is attached to or formed integral with an arm d2, which carries the hammer h, said arms d cl2 being ,arranged at ably mounted on one arm, asa, of the bell.

crank lever pivotcd at 5, the other arm 6 of said lever having on it adj ustably arranged a block 7, which is connected by a link 8 with the arm d2. The lower end of the arm cl2 and link S constitute toggle-levers. Vhcn the hammer-carrying arm d2 is in the position shown in full lines, Fig. l, the spring C is compressed. Vhen the arm d2 advances in the direction of the arrow 10, the spring C eX- pands or spends its force, moving the arm 4 on the pivot 5 and raising the arm 6, thereby assisting the movements of the arm (Z2 during the first halt of its stroke or until the arm d2 has assumed its vertical position. As the arm (Z2 continues moving in the direction of the arrow 10, completing the advancing stroke, the link S will be moved into the dotted-line position shown in Fig. 1,While the arm 6 will IOO be drawn by it into its Vformer full-line position and the spring C compressed. As the arm d2 retreats to its normal position the spring C acts in the same manner-viz.,

5 spending its accumulated force during the iirst half of the retreating stroke of the arm and accumulating it again during the last half of the retreating stroke of the said arm.

The locking mechanism consists ot the lever o, pivoted at o and having en it a detent o2, which is engaged by one or the other springactuated pawls o3 o4, arranged on an arm o1", pivoted at 0 and having secured to it or formed integral with it an arm 0T, to which the armature eS of the electro-magnet o is fixed. The pawls of o constitute the let-off.

The lever o has preferably attached to it a retractile Spring u, although the part-s would work correctly without such spring, and said lever has pivoted to it at u. a pawl n', which is spring-pressed, and which has a guide-face which co-operates with a fixed pin uf. The arm cIl has on it a ratchet-toothed bar or segment f, which is adapted to co-operate with the spring-pressed pawl u', and said bar has on it a pin f. Vhen the lever o is held by the electro-magnet o", as shown in dotted lines, Fig. l, and full lines, Figs. 2 and 3, the spring-pressed pawl it engages the ratchettoothed bar f and holds the arm cL in fixed position with the hammer-carrying arm d2 at the end of its retreating stroke, which is also at the beginning of its advancing stroke. The pivot il? of the pawl n is at such time but a little to the left of a line between the point of engagement of said pawl with the ratchettoothed bar f and the pivot o et the lever o, and the pawl u and the end of the lever o below its pivot o form a toggle-jointed lever, which firmly holds the hammer, with but slight pressure on the let-oft'.

Then the armature ofthe electro-magnet is retracted, the let-off o3 ol releases the lever o, and the latter, turning on its pivot o, raises the pawl `u and by means of the 'lined pin a2 said pawl will be disengaged from the ratchet-toothed bar j', and the arm ci is then tree to be moved by the actuating mechanism into the dotted-line position shown in Fig. l, at which time the pin f will strike the lever o and return it positively to its normal position into engagement with the let-oft or springacting pawls controlled by the electro-magnet. The arm cl then returns to its normal position and the ratchet-toothed barfcngages with the pawl u,which follows from tooth to tooth until the arm cYi has reached its extreme limit of motion in this direction, at which time the ham mer-carrying arm (ll has arrived at the end of its stroke, and the end a4 of the pawl u then engages the ratchettoothed bar f and prevents thearm c vibrating or rebounding7 and hence the arm Z will be securely held.

I do not desire to limit myself to the specific form of locking mechanism herein shown, nor to the specific connecting mechanism herein shown connecting the spring C with the hammer-carrying arm, and also in lieu ot' the actuating mechanism herein shown any suitable construction may be employed.

It the parts are correctly adjusted, the bar f need have but one tooth, as thc pawl Il. will always engage the same tooth.

I claiml. In a bell-striker, a bell-hammer consisting of the arm d2, pivoted at its lower end and having the head 7L at its upper end, and means for moving said bell-hammer in each direction, combined with locking mechanism for locking said bell-hammer at the beginning of its advancing stroke, substantially as described.

2. In a bell-striker, a bell-hammer and two actuating-pawls therefor, combined with locking mechanism controlled by an electro-magnet for locking said bell-hammer at the bcginning of its advancing stroke, substantially as described.

3. In abell-striker, a bell-hammer and actuating mechanism therefor, combined with a toggle-jointed locking mechanism directly engaging and holding said bell-hammer, substantially as described.

i. In a bell-striker, a bell-hammer and actuating mechanism therefor, combined with a toggle-jointed locking mechanism directly engaging and holding said bell-hammer, one arm, as o, of said locking mechanism being extended and adapted to engage the let-oft controlled by the electro-magnet, the other arm engaging the bell-hammer, substantially as described.

5. In a bell-striker, a bell-hammer and means for moving it in each direction, combined with locking mechanism consisting of a ratchet-toothed bar f, pawl u', and means for moving said pawl controlled by an electromagnet, substantially as described.

(i. In a bell-striker, a bell-hammer and means for moving it in each direction, combined with locking mechanism consisting et the ratchet-toothed bar f, pawl u', lever 0, pivoted at o and controlled by an electro-magnet, substantially as described.

7. In a bell-striker, a bell-hammer and means for moving it in each direction, combined with locking mechanism consisting of a ratchet-toothed bar f, pawl u', lever o, controlled by an electro-magnet, and a pin 011 the bar f for restoring the arm o toits normal position, substantially as described.

8. In a bell-striker, a bell-hammer and aetuating mechanism therefor, combined with locking mechanism for said bell-hammer, consisting of a ratchet-toothed bar f, pawl a', level' 0, carrying said pawl u and pivoted at o', and a let-oft for the lever 0, connected to the armature of the electro-magnet, substantially as described.

9. In abell-striker, aboli-hammer and actuating mechanism therefor, combined With tog- IOO IIO

IZO

a component part ot it a spring-pressed pawl u', having a guide-face to engage a fixed pin u2, substantially as described.

lO. In a bell-striker, a bell-hammer and means for moving it in each direction, combined with the spring C, bell-crank lever 4: 6, adjustable blocks 3 7 thereon, one of which is connected with the spring and the other with the hammer-carryin g arm, substantially as described.

11. In a bell-striker, a bell-hammer and means for moving it in each direction, combined with a spring C and toggle-jointed levers for operating it, substantially as described.

l2. In a bell-striker, a hammer, and actuating mechanism ltherefor, and a toggle-jointed locking mechanism Which directly engages with and locks the hammer at the beginning of its advancing stroke, with the pivotal points of the toggle near the line of dead-center through said points and the point of engagement With the bell-hammer, substantially as described.

13. In a bell-striker, a hammer, and actuating mechanism therefor, and a toggle-jointed 2 5 locking mechanism which directly engages with and locks the hammer, with the pivotal points of the toggle near the line of deadccnter through said points and the point of engagement with the bellhammer, substan- 3o tially as described.

14. In a bell-striker, a bell-hammer'and means for moving it in each direction, combined With locking mechanism consisting of the ratchet-toothed bar f, pawl u', lever 0, 35 pivoted at oA and controlled by an electromagnet,a1id the spring u., substantially as described.

In testimony Whereof I have signed my name to this specification in the presence of 4o two subscribing Witnesses.

MOSES G. CRANE.

Witnesses:

BERNICE J. Novus, EMMA J. BENNETT. 

